Category: Wilderness

Our new snowcat! The Icelandic glacier is our playground and home, so when we have to add new machinery to our fleet we are not looking to buy a Toyota Yaris! No no, we have to make sure its glacier fitting and can withstand the Icelandic weather and conditions on the glacier. This time we needed something totally new for transporting passengers from our glacier hut to our new ice cave and this incredible custom made snowcat was welcomed to the family. Custom made The Pisten Bully is fast, economical, rides smooth and is outfitted with a custom box designed by EFLA, a general engineering and consulting company providing high-quality solutions worldwide. The box is fitted with: Two-point safety belt for everyone Emergency exit Airconditioning with fans in each corner Bluetooth stereo for good times Emergency button to notify the driver to stop Easy access into the box Skiers and snowboarders First off the snowcat was used to transfer the brave souls of skiers and snowboarders in Iceland up a mountain in north of Iceland offering incredible views and untouched powder snow! This has been an incredibly popular activity and has been operated by our friends at the "Arctic Freeride". Once we told them about the new Ice Cave we discovered they could not resist and headed south with the monster snow car. ﻿ Transporting to the Ice Cave While you can, of course, have the opportunity to snowmobile up to the Ice Cave we still wanted another option to welcome travelers to this all-time favorite Iceland adventure. We wanted to be able to invite people no matter the weather and no matter the clothing to ride all the way up to the Ice Cave without having to gear up. The snowcat is warm, fitted with leather seats, comfortable riding and can accommodate 28 passengers

Our new snowcat! The Icelandic glacier is our playground and home, so when we have to add new machinery to our fleet we are not looking to buy a Toyota Yaris! No no, we have to make sure its glacier fitting and can withstand the Icelandic weather and conditions on the glacier. This time we

WHERE IS THE GLACIER? Receding glaciers is happening globally and Iceland is no exception. The world's climate is changing and it is having a tremendous impact on our daily lives and work. In just a few short decades, there may not be any glaciers left to snowmobile on. We at Mountaineers are determined to preserve Iceland‘s precious nature and we are proud to have taken the next step towards a greener Iceland and hopefully saving the glacier with reforestation REFORESTATION Saving the glacier; Step 2 Friday 23 March Mrs. Ólöf Einarsdóttir, Managing Director of Mountaineers of Iceland, and Mr. Garðar Þorfinnsson, Regional Representative of the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland (SCSI), completed a contract concerning reclamation and reforestation in Bláskógabyggð Municipality. Following up with the meeting, representatives from Mountaineers, SCSI, and Bláskógabyggð Municipality met up on 4 June to formally start the project by planting the first trees. Then 19 June, another 2,000 birch trees were planted in an area which covers approximately 1 hectare. This contract will last for 3 years and commits Mountaineers to provide one million ISK per year in order to fund the project. The goal of the project is to absorb CO2 and in time, carbon neutralise Mountaineers while at the same time, creating a more beautiful environment which is mostly barren at the moment. ECOTOURISM In a previous blog, we spoke about the green future of tourism where ecotourism or sustainable tourism as it‘s often referred to as has been growing around the world and it could be said that the UN‘s declaration of ecotourism in 2002 was a milestone for this ongoing mission of protecting our planet. SHUT IT OFF - FOREVER Saving the glacier; Step 1 Earlier this year, Mountaineers took the first step towards going green and shut down a diesel generator that has been

WHERE IS THE GLACIER? Receding glaciers is happening globally and Iceland is no exception. The world’s climate is changing and it is having a tremendous impact on our daily lives and work. In just a few short decades, there may not be any glaciers left to snowmobile on. We at Mountaineers are determined to preserve Iceland‘s precious

Time for a peek at another Iceland Travel Look-Book! When you live in Iceland you better enjoy the outdoors to experience everything Iceland has to offer! This week it´s local Icelander @eliasarnars that open´s his Travel Look-Book! "I am just a kid from Iceland who really likes to go outside," says Elías. His passion lies in the field of photography, nature and traveling. He works as a park ranger for the Vatnajökull national park as well as a photographer and visual artist. He tries to mix up his passion for photography with nature abundant work of the park ranger and represents that in his works. Elías has an Instagram account for photography and tries as he best can to encourage people and educate them about climate change and nature conservation. That, however, has not been the prime point lately but is definitely the long-term goal and one of the main reasons he keeps doing it. His favorite place in Iceland is not to be revealed to everybody as he thinks that only the informed and sensible travelers should visit it because of it's sensitive and fragile nature. Hint: it's in the national park of Vatnajökull. Two years ago Elías began his nomadic adventure of becoming a photographer and park ranger and ever since that started he has had a burning passion for all things related. It is truly an environment for the introvert human being and protecting something as beautiful and striking as the Icelandic nature has given him a greater meaning to his works. When arriving in a new place, Elías usually observes it and its surroundings with no camera. Then its straight to the creative part and after shooting for a while comes another moment of tranquility before heading back to the road. Glacial touring with mountaineers was a

Time for a peek at another Iceland Travel Look-Book! When you live in Iceland you better enjoy the outdoors to experience everything Iceland has to offer! This week it´s local Icelander @eliasarnars that open´s his Travel Look-Book! “I am just a kid from Iceland who really likes to go outside,” says Elías. His passion lies in

This week we get to know Kelly Stijkel, a true adventurer, and mountaineer! Let´s take a peek into Kelly's Iceland Travel Look-Book. Who is Kelly? "Home to me is Zimbabwe in Africa, where I grew up on a farm and then in Harare, the capital city. I studied my undergraduate in Cape Town, South Africa and am currently furthering my master studies in Maastricht, The Netherlands. I’ve always loved traveling and seeing the beauty of this world. When I met Chris in 2015, we both shared a passion for adventure and since then we’ve traveled quite a bit in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, and have visited Mauritius in 2016, and Indonesia and Iceland in 2017! Chris works in Zimbabwe where he and his family are involved in outdoor adventure based team leadership training and tourism (@farandwidezimbabwe @aberfoylelodge) and have just built the highest zip line in the world over Africa’s second highest waterfall, the Mutarazi Falls." What is your blog/IG about? "I would say that my IG is about adventure, nature, and food along the way! I have my private IG account @kellystijkel, a travel IG account @kellyannetravels and a food account @capetownfood. I simply want to inspire people to see different places in this world! I must say that I am very lucky to have an incredible boyfriend who loves photography and videography to capture all these adventures along the way." What brings you to Iceland? "We chose Iceland and booked out flights just two weeks prior to our departure! Iceland has been somewhere I have desperately wanted to visit for the last two years simply because of its natural beauty, and its extremes, like seeing volcanoes and glaciers in the same day. Chris and I are both adventure seekers and love the outdoors, so Iceland fit out ideal

This week we get to know Kelly Stijkel, a true adventurer, and mountaineer! Let´s take a peek into Kelly’s Iceland Travel Look-Book. Who is Kelly? “Home to me is Zimbabwe in Africa, where I grew up on a farm and then in Harare, the capital city. I studied my undergraduate in Cape Town, South Africa and

Icelanders coexist with many types of danger and not a few have lost their lives as a result of volcanic eruptions, avalanches, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The ICE-SAR rescue teams have gathered knowledge and experience that allows them to react quickly to all the dangers that beset and threaten inhabited areas and travelers on land. A commanding selection of equipment, targeted training and educational work, alongside the efficient organization of the National SAR Command and Area SAR Commands, ensures a rapid and professional response to danger at any given location. The ICE-SAR rescue teams number about 100, within, there are thousands of people who are always available when needed. The professionalism that characterizes the work of Icelandic rescue teams has brought worldwide attention. The specialist training undertaken by particular rescue groups has resulted in exceptional knowledge of the various conditions that are known to occur, both at sea and on land. ICE-SAR seeks dedicated knowledge far and wide, within Iceland and overseas. Mountaineers of Iceland support ICE-SAR The Emergency Call or "Neydarkall" is an annual fundraising for all units of ICE-SAR that give out a keychain figure to supporters. This year´s figure is a member of the snowmobile search and rescue team. Mountaineers of Iceland is the biggest snowmobile tour operator in Iceland and of course we support the ICE-SAR and donated. With the donation, we received this statue of the snowmobile team member! Donations Donating is a great way to show your support for the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR). ICE-SAR is a nonprofit, noncommercial, volunteer-based organization that specializes in search and rescue services on land and at sea around the coast of Iceland. To make a donation by credit card please use this link for a safe online transaction. SafeTravel If you are traveling in Iceland

Icelanders coexist with many types of danger and not a few have lost their lives as a result of volcanic eruptions, avalanches, earthquakes and other natural disasters. The ICE-SAR rescue teams have gathered knowledge and experience that allows them to react quickly to all the dangers that beset and threaten inhabited areas and travelers on

Iceland, often called the land of fire and ice, has become known worldwide for its beautiful and unique nature. Iceland is located on a hot spot on earth resulting in a great geothermal activity and therefore we have a lot of natural hot springs and pools here. We picked out our top five hot springs, it was not an easy pick and there are many other beautiful hot springs that are not on this list. Here is our top five! Reykjadalur Reykjadalur “Steam Valley” is located in South Iceland innermost of Hveragerði. It is not far from Reykjavík it takes just about 40 minutes to drive there by car. It is a hiking trail with a beautiful scenery and when you are at the top you can bath in natural hot springs. The hike is not that difficult so you should not let that stop you, it takes about 60-90 minutes to walk up there. The hiking trail allows you to enjoy the unique nature that Reykjadalur has to offer. Hiking and relaxing in a natural hot spring… What more can you ask for? Seljavallalaug Seljavallalaug was built in 1923 so that makes the pool the oldest swimming pool here in Iceland. In olden days children were taught to swim there. The swimming pool is well hidden in a narrow valley located in the South of Iceland, nearby Eyjafjallajökull. The pool is filled with hot spring water but the temperature is just around 25 degrees. We definitely recommend that you make a stop there. Seljavallalaug is raw and unique and it is safe to say that it is a lifetime experience to go for a swim there. Grettislaug Grettislaug is located in North of Iceland in Skagafjörður. Grettislaug

Iceland, often called the land of fire and ice, has become known worldwide for its beautiful and unique nature. Iceland is located on a hot spot on earth resulting in a great geothermal activity and therefore we have a lot of natural hot springs and pools here. We picked out our top five hot springs, it

Emissions and reforestation When it comes to any field of our lives, we need to be aware of our environment and the precious nature that sustains all life. It is a sad fact that environmental pollution is threatening our planet and thereby our very own existence. However, there is light in the dark. When it comes to protecting the environment, the tourist sector is a big factor and plays an important role. In recent years, ecotourism or sustainable tourism as it‘s often referred to as, has been growing around the world and it could be said that the that the UN‘s declaration of ecotourism in 2002 was a milestone for this ongoing mission of protecting our planet. All sectors within the tourist industry need to reflect and look for ways in which they can reduce or better yet eliminate pollution, especially but not limited to CO2 emission, as well as look for projects they can support. For example, reforestation and reclamation projects, environmental conservation and litter picking, and even supporting advances in eco-friendly technology, such as solar and wind power projects, electric vehicles are all worthy projects. If all tour operators and travel agencies put their weights on the scale of ecotourism and take the UN declaration to heart putting its guidelines into practice, it will be possible for us to start an environmental revolution resulting in a massive positive impact. This needs to take place not only in tourism, but in all sectors and all industries, all over the world. Mountaineers of Iceland have been exploring ways in which to reduce our CO2 emissions, as well as seeking ways in how to bind the emissions already taking place. In terms of supporting environmental projects, Mountaineers have chosen to team up with the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland and Bláskógabyggð

Emissions and reforestation When it comes to any field of our lives, we need to be aware of our environment and the precious nature that sustains all life. It is a sad fact that environmental pollution is threatening our planet and thereby our very own existence. However, there is light in the dark. When it

Here in Iceland we have a lot of waterfalls, they are almost everywhere. If you are visiting Iceland you should definitely take some time to explore the waterfalls and observe the beautiful nature that Iceland has to offer. We listed down our top 5 waterfalls in Iceland but just to be clear it was a difficult pick - there are many other waterfalls that are phenomenal. Here are our top 5: Gullfoss Gullfoss waterfall or the Golden falls is without a doubt Iceland‘s most popular waterfall. Gullfoss is located in Southwest Iceland in the canyon of Hvítá (e. White river) which is fed by Langjökull glacier, second biggest glacier in Europe. The waterfall is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland and it is part of the popular Golden Circle tour. The name of the waterfall comes from the colour of the water – on a sunny day the water truly looks golden-brown. One of our most popular day tours, the Pearl tour, includes a stop at Gullfoss waterfall. For further information, look here: https://mountaineers.is/tours/the-pearl-tour-golden-circle-super-truck-tour-snowmobiling/ Seljalandsfoss Seljalandsfoss is located in the South Region of Iceland. The waterfall is one of the best known waterfalls here in Iceland. It is part of Seljalands river that has its origin in Eyjafjallajökull, ice caps. One of the reasons for Seljalandsfoss popularity is because it is possible to walk behind it which is a magnificent sight. Seljalandsfoss is not far from Reykjavík so if you are travelling the South-Coast, Seljalandsfoss is a must see. Just remember to bring a raincoat as you might get wet from the drizzle especially if you walk behind it which I highly recommend. Our tour Þórsmörk & The South Coast includes a stop at Seljalandsfoss - For further information, taka a look: https://mountaineers.is/tours/thorsmork/ One hidden

Here in Iceland we have a lot of waterfalls, they are almost everywhere. If you are visiting Iceland you should definitely take some time to explore the waterfalls and observe the beautiful nature that Iceland has to offer. We listed down our top 5 waterfalls in Iceland but just to be clear it was a

The weather in Iceland is one of it's kind. It has the questionable talent of being able to provide all seasons in one day. Because of this it is vital to plan your clothing accordingly. 1. Waterproof shoes Eve n if the sun is shining in the morning and there are no clouds is sight they might very well be waiting to surprise you in just a moment. Don't be fooled by the gorgeousness of a blue sky, the rain is never far away. The rain might even have visited the night before and you might not realize it before your foot is deep into the wet moss. There is also snow in the Icelandic highlands year-round that no sneakers will be happy to see. 2. Windproof clothing The Icelandic wind. It really deserves an entire blog post on it's own. You never know when it might hit you. It can appear out of nowhere and it can be very unkind. Always have windproof clothing with you. Always. 3. Layers This is common knowledge in Iceland. Everyone wears layers. That way you can enjoy the sun when it peeks out and maybe even get a slight tan on those hands. But being cold can completely ruin a trip so those layers will allow you to bundle up if needed. 4. Sunglasses Sunglasses might not pop into your mind when packing for a vacation in Iceland. But it's crucial to have, especially if you plan on visiting the highlands. The sun is stronger up there and the snow will help reflect it. We guarantee you will enjoy yourself much more if you have them at hand. 5. Sunscreen As stated before, the sun is stronger the higher you get. Wear sunscreen if you are going to the Icelandic highlands, even during winter. Keep

The weather in Iceland is one of it’s kind. It has the questionable talent of being able to provide all seasons in one day. Because of this it is vital to plan your clothing accordingly. 1. Waterproof shoes Eve n if the sun is shining in the morning and there are no clouds is sight